Audio conferencing system for office furniture

ABSTRACT

An office furniture conferencing system includes a plurality of microphones attached to a table. Each microphone produces a respective audio signal. An electronic control module is attached to the table. The module includes a switching device having a plurality of inputs each receiving a respective one of the audio signals. The switching device selects and outputs one of the audio signals. A wireless transmitter is communicatively coupled to the switching device. The wireless transmitter wirelessly transmits an airborne signal dependent upon the selected audio signal.

FIELD

The present invention relates to office furniture. More specifically,the present invention relates to office furniture having audiocomponents integrated therein.

BACKGROUND

Modern audio conferencing systems are standalone devices, such as a“conference room phone”, that are often placed on top of a conferencetable when in use. Such systems typically have power and communicationlines extending therefrom, and thus can be awkward to move around fromplace to place. Another problem is that such systems may occupy space ona table top that is needed for other things. What is needed in the artis a way to provide conferencing capabilities around a table without theabove-described disadvantages of standalone conferencing systems.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is an office furniture system having audio conferencingcomponents integrated therein. Thus, the table may have telephoneconferencing capability without the need of additional devices such asstandalone conferencing systems.

A user's mobile phone may serve as the conferencing device, and theaudio system built into the table may serve as a sound reinforcementsystem. Thus, the invention may bring the functionality of connectingmobile devices to the table through a wireless or wired connection. Themobile devices may function as conference phones or media systems.

In one embodiment, the invention may provide a table having Bluetoothspeaker connectivity. Thus, the table may be fully audio-compatible withadditional Bluetooth devices (e.g., iPhone, Android etc.).

In some embodiments, the table has a speaker system that can operate ineither a media mode or a conferencing mode. These modes may beautomatically selected based on the Bluetooth connection that isestablished. The system may be able to switch between the two modesbased on the audio frequency of the signal that is being carried by thesystem. For example, if music is played back through the table from adevice in media mode, then high bandwidth with base may be selected andequalization may be automatically applied to compensate for roomacoustics. Conversely, when the table is used for conferencing inconjunction with a speakerphone, the audio bandwidth may be reduced toabout 4 KHz and mid-frequencies may be boosted to improve soundintelligibility. Typically three or four loudspeakers may be provided ona table.

One aspect of the present invention pertains to an office furnitureconferencing system including a plurality of microphones attached to atable. Each microphone produces a respective audio signal. An electroniccontrol module is attached to the table. The module includes a switchingdevice having a plurality of inputs each receiving a respective one ofthe audio signals. The switching device selects and outputs one of theaudio signals. A wireless transmitter is communicatively coupled to theswitching device. The wireless transmitter wirelessly transmits anairborne signal dependent upon the selected audio signal.

Another aspect of the present invention pertains to an office furnitureconferencing method, including providing a table having a plurality ofmicrophones, a loudspeaker, and a control module attached thereto. Themicrophones and loudspeaker are communicatively coupled to the controlmodule. A respective audio signal is produced from each microphone.

One of the audio signals is automatically selected by use of the controlmodule. A first airborne signal is wirelessly transmitted dependent uponthe selected audio signal. The transmitting is performed by the controlmodule. A second airborne signal is wirelessly received from a personalmobile device that received the first airborne signal. The personalmobile device is disposed within fifty feet of the table. The receivingis performed by the control module. The personal mobile device isidentified by the control module. Audible sounds are played on theloudspeaker dependent upon the second airborne signal. The playingoccurs after the identifying step and is performed by the controlmodule. It is determined that a wireless communication link between thecontrol module and the personal mobile device is broken. The determiningis performed by the control module. In response to the determining step,playing of any audible sound that is dependent upon an airborne signalfrom the personal mobile device is inhibited until the control modulere-identifies the personal mobile device.

A further aspect of the present invention pertains to an officefurniture conferencing system including a plurality of microphonesassociated with a table. Each microphone produces a respective audiosignal. A switching device is attached to the table and has a pluralityof inputs each receiving a respective one of the audio signals. Theswitching device outputs a switcher signal dependent upon the audiosignals. A wireless transmitter is attached to the table and iscommunicatively coupled to the switching device. The wirelesstransmitter wirelessly transmits a Bluetooth signal dependent upon theswitcher signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an audio conferencing system for officefurniture according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a method of thepresent invention for operating the audio conferencing system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of thepresent embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific languagewill be used to describe the same. It will, nevertheless, be understoodthat no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended;any alterations and further modifications of the described orillustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principlesof the invention as illustrated therein are contemplated as wouldnormally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Generally, the present system, method, and apparatus provide a tablehaving conferencing capabilities. While the figures herein illustrateone specific implementation, the invention as illustrated will beadapted and modified by those skilled in the art as will occur to themin view of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an audio conferencing system 10 ofthe present invention including a control module 12 all the componentsof which may be in a common box-shaped housing measuring approximatelyten inches by ten inches by two inches. Control module 12 along withreference microphone 14, voice microphones 16 a-d, wireless microphone18, loudspeakers 20 a-d, and power supply 22 may be attached to a sameconference table 24. Microphones 14, 16 a-d and 18 may be mounted belowthe tabletop or surface of table 24 within a common housing (not shown),and may be physically separated from the table by some type of isolationpad (not shown) in order to prevent any feedback from items or movementdisposed above the tabletop. Reference microphone 14 may be installed ata location on table 24 that is unlikely, or least likely, to pick up thevoices of users speaking into voice microphones 16 a-d. Thus, referencemicrophone 14 may primarily pick up background noise in the room. Theisolated background noise signal from reference microphone 14 may beused in a noise cancellation process applied to the audio signalsproduced by voice microphones 16 a-d.

Power supply 22 may receive AC power 26 from a standard wall-mountedreceptacle which may provide standard household voltage of approximatelybetween 110 volts and 120 volts.

Control module 12 may include an internet protocol (IP) port 28 whichenables configuration of module 12, including microphone mixer and autoswitcher 30 by a mobile application 32 or by configuration software 34via an Ethernet connection or a CAT5 network cable to the Internet 36.Thus, the user can use, for example, his laptop computer to connect toan audio processor which includes switcher 30, microprocessor 38,microphone equalization digital signal processor (DSP) 40, Bluetoothhands-free speech/music module 42, audio equalizer digital signalprocessor (DSP) 44, and power amplifier 46. Through this connection tothe audio processor, the user may use his laptop to configuremicrophones 14, 16 a-d, 18, speakers 20 a-d, microphone equalizationsettings, output equalizations settings and any other settings asdesired. These settings may be established to accommodate the particularacoustic characteristics of the room in which table 24 is disposed, forexample. The laptop computer may include a graphical interface thatshows the equalizer settings. Alternatively, a wireless Bluetoothpersonal electronic device may be used to establish the settings.

IP port 28 may also be used within the organization to track assets,such as system 10 and the table 24 to which system 10 is attached. Whensystem 10 is connected to a common network, the information technologydepartment of the organization can monitor the status of system 10 andremotely provide proactive service or repair.

The expanding ports (i.e., expansion in port 48 and expansion out port50) can be used to daisy chain multiple control modules 12 together andthus expand system 10. In particular, ports 48, 50 may be used tointerconnect processors 38 of multiple control modules 12. This mayenable easy integration of the system on a long table with a largenumber of people wherein more than four microphones are needed. Onecontrol module 12 may act as the master, and the other control modules12 may act as slaves.

An external audio in port 52 and an external audio out port 54 mayenable integration of the table with other audio equipment, such as anexternal audio source 56 and an external audio system 58, respectively.Thus, third party installers can further integrate system 10 withdifferent amplifiers or microphones (not shown). A laptop computer mayserve as the external audio source 56, for example.

A sub-woofer out port 60 may enable the integration of a sub-woofer (notshown) for lower audio frequencies (e.g., bass).

A record out (full with microphone audio) port 62 may enable a digitalstorage device (not shown), such as a hard drive, to be integrated withsystem 10 to enable the recording of audio or sounds that take place inthe vicinity of the table 24 on which system 10 is installed. Thus, port62 may enable recording of audio or sounds from parties in the room inwhich system 10 is disposed and audio or sounds on the remote end oftelecommunication involving a user's mobile phone 64. Table 24 mayinclude a visible light emitting diode (not shown) of a certain color(e.g., red) that lights up when recording is occurring.

A Bluetooth enabled mobile phone 64 may bi-directionally communicatewith system 10 via Bluetooth hands-free speech/music module 42. Apushbutton 65, a touchbutton or other type of switch may becommunicatively coupled to processor 38, and may be actuated by a userin order to initiate a communication link between control module 12 andcell phone 64 (e.g., a Bluetooth communication link between Bluetoothmodule 42 and cell phone 64). Control module 12 may prompt the user ofcell phone 64 to agree to establish the communication link, for exampleby transmitting a message to cell phone 64 asking “Do you want toconnect to the conference?” The user of cell phone 64 may confirm hisdesire for cell phone 64 to be connected to system 10, such as byentering one or more keystrokes into cell phone 64. Table 24 may includea visible light emitting diode (not shown) of a certain color (e.g.,blue) that lights up when control module 12 is searching for a cellphone or other Bluetooth device to communicate with, or when the devicehas been found and pairing is occurring.

A recording beep module 66 may add an intermittent beep sound to theaudio signal transmitted on port 62 in order to give an audibleindication to all involved parties that a recording of the conversationor other audio source is taking place.

Microphones 14, 16 a-d and 18 are fed into microphone mixer and autoswitcher 30 that includes an audio mixer having an automatic switchwhich may automatically select the strongest one of the microphonesignals coming from microphones 14, 16 a-d and 18. The microphones otherthan the one emitting the strongest signal may then be muted. Thus, inthis embodiment, system 10 may be said to focus on the loudest speech inorder to enable audio conferencing of the best audio quality. Theselected microphone with the strongest signal may be equalized toprovide neutral audio, and the signal may then be fed to the Bluetoothdevice 42. Bluetooth device 42 may then transmit the signal to cellphone 64 for cellular transmission to the cell phones (not shown) ofother remote conference attendees. Bluetooth device 42 may also provideecho cancellation and feedback cancellation.

The output from Bluetooth device 42 may be equalized by audio equalizerDSP 44 and fed to power amplifier 46 to drive speakers 20 a-d, which maybe located under the tabletop.

During use, system 10 may operate in a conference mode or in a mediamode. In the conference mode, the table equipment of system 10 maysupport local voice input through a series of embedded microphones 14,16 a-d and 18 which may be connected to the Bluetooth receiver 42through the audio mixer of module 30. System 10 may support remote voiceinput through the microphones of the remote participants' cell phones,which may be in communication with the audio mixer of module 30 throughBluetooth receiver 42. System 10 may intelligently shut off the remoteparticipant's mobile device's microphone, which may operate as ahands-free application when connected and used in conference mode. Thus,the mixer 30 may intelligently devote the maximum amount of focus to whois speaking, increasing the gain of the speaker's microphone and scalingback the gain of the other microphones, and thereby reducinginterference.

In the media mode (e.g., presentations, web video, etc.) system 10 mayintelligently switch to a higher audio bandwidth. To this end, in oneembodiment, system 10 may connect a tablet computer or laptop computertethered by a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) to improveaudio quality. The audio signal and the video signal may be separated,keeping the audio signal locally within the table 24, and an HDMI(video) out connection may be provided on table 24.

Video connection in/out ports (not shown) may be supported but treatedseparately. When a “tethered connection” is used, system 10 may notallow any wireless connections, thereby reducing the chance of anyinterference.

Both wireless and wired/tethered types of connections may be availableand supported by system 10. In the case of a wireless connection, theuser may be able to simply use the mobile device's native Bluetoothcapability and connect system 10 to the mobile device in order to placephone calls or share audio signal though the table. This Bluetoothconnection may operate in an inventive “forget me” type applicationwherein when the user is finished with using the table and disconnectshis cell phone from system 10 or walks his cell phone out of thecommunication range of system 10, a new connection between the cellphone and system 10 will have to be established in order for his cellphone and system 10 to again communicate. This re-establishing of thecommunication link between the cell phone and system 10 may be calledfor each time the cell phone is disconnected from system 10 or is movedout of the communication range of system 10. This feature mayadvantageously ensure any devices that have been previously connected tosystem 10 do not interfere with any current connection. For example, itwould be undesirable for a former conference call participant to leavethe table, access a music stream on his mobile device, and thenphysically return within communication range of system 10, which couldresult in the music stream being inadvertently transmitted to thecurrent conference call participants who are using system 10. Thus,system 10 may permit only one Bluetooth connection to be established ata time.

In the case of a wired/tethered connection, a user may be able toconnect to the table 24 using an HDMI connection. The system mayseparate the video signals and audio signals, keeping the audio signalslocally on the table 24. A user may be able to transmit the video mediacontent to a display that is not a part of the system. The system maysupport a single user with an HDMI out connection.

System 10 may accommodate iPhone operating system (iOS) devices as wellas Android and other devices through these devices' native Bluetoothapplications. All of these various types of devices may also be able toconnect to system 10 via a tethered HDMI cable specific to theparticular device. In one embodiment, the inventive system may be ableto support an iOS application that connects to and controls the webbrowser for the system. Thus, a user's mobile device may be used tocontrol the inventive system to switch modes, place calls, set up thesystem, or perform maintenance.

During the setting up and testing of system 10, the audio output may beadjusted based on the interior attributes of the room in which the table24 is to be operated. These adjustments may be performed by actuation ofmanual switches (not shown) on the table 24 or by connecting system 10to a network, logging in through a web interface, and adjusting theaudio levels. The user(s) logging in may be able to see some type ofdiagnostics on a display screen which guide the user towards selectingthe best audio setting. For example, system 10 may play back somepredefined sound bites and the user interface of system 10 maysimultaneously display indications of the actual sound levels that arebeing picked up and registered by microphones 14, 16 a-d and 18. Theuser may also be able to walk around the table 24 and test themicrophone input through the user interface, thereby verifying thatmixer and switcher 30 is functioning properly.

One embodiment of an office furniture conferencing method 200 of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. In a first step S202, atable having a plurality of microphones, a loudspeaker, and a controlmodule attached thereto is provided. The microphones and loudspeaker arecommunicatively coupled to the control module. For example, microphones14, 16 a-d and 18, loudspeakers 20 a-d, and control module 12 areattached to table 24. Further, microphones 14, 16 a-d and 18,loudspeakers 20 a-d are communicatively coupled to control module 12.

In a next step S204, a respective audio signal is produced from eachmicrophone. That is, each of microphones 14, 16 a-d and 18 may outputits own respective signal based upon the sounds that the microphonepicks up in its particular location. Because the distance to a source ofsound (e.g., a human voice) may vary from microphone to microphone, thestrength of magnitude of the signal produced by each microphone may alsovary.

Next, in step S206, one of the audio signals is automatically selectedby use of the control module. For example, microphone mixer andautomatic switcher 30 may determine which of microphones 16 a-d and 18is outputting the strongest or highest magnitude signal, and may selectthat strongest signal, perhaps on the assumption that the strongestsignal is easiest to process such that it can be heard and deciphered byusers listening on cell phone 64 and other personal mobile electronicdevices. The strongest signal may further be assumed to have the highestsignal-to-noise ratio, wherein the signal represents a speaker's voice,and the noise represents background noise. The output of referencemicrophone 14 may not be considered for selection, as it may bepositioned such that it is unlikely to be closest to a human speaker,and thus its output signal would be mostly noise in the event that itsoutput signal is the strongest put out by any of the microphones.

In step S208, a first airborne signal dependent upon the selected audiosignal is wirelessly transmitted. The transmitting is performed by useof the control module. In the particular embodiment of FIG. 1, Bluetoothhands-free speech/music module 42 may wirelessly transmit the selectedmicrophone signal after the signal has been processed by DSP 40.

In a next step S210, a second airborne signal is wirelessly receivedfrom a personal mobile device that received the first airborne signal.The personal mobile device is disposed within fifty feet of the table.The receiving is performed by use of the control module. Again, in theparticular embodiment of FIG. 1, a user of system 10, who may be sittingat table 24, may be carrying a cell phone 64 that receives the Bluetoothsignal transmitted from module 42. Cell phone 64 may be used as a remoteconferencing device that relays the content of the received Bluetoothsignal to the cell phone (not shown) of a remotely located conferenceparticipant. The remote participant may speak into his cell phone, andthe resulting cellular signal may be transmitted to cell phone 64, as iswell known. Cell phone 64 may then relay the received cellular signal asa Bluetooth signal to Bluetooth hands-free speech/music module 42, whichreceives the Bluetooth signal as part of control module 12.

Next, in step S212, the personal mobile device is identified by use ofthe control module. For example, control module 12, though Bluetoothmodule 42, may request or otherwise receive identifying information fromcell phone 64, such as an authentication code. Control module 12 maypermit only one cell phone at a time to function as a conferencetransceiver, and module 12 may use the identification information toverify that Bluetooth signals received in the near future during thesame conferencing session (e.g., within the next few hours) originatefrom the same cell phone 64. In one embodiment, Bluetooth signalsreceived from cell phones other than the identified cell phone areignored, or at least are not processed by control module 12.

In step S214, audible sounds dependent upon the second airborne signalare played on the loudspeaker. The playing occurs after the personalmobile device is identified in step S212 and is performed by use of thecontrol module. That is, after Bluetooth module 42 has received theBluetooth signal from cell phone 64, and control module 12 hasidentified cell phone 64, control module 12 may play the Bluetoothsignal from cell phone 64, which may be the voice of the remoteconference participant, on one or more of loudspeakers 20 a-d.

In a next step S216, it is determined that a wireless communication linkbetween the control module and the personal mobile device is broken. Thedetermination is performed by the control module. For example, the userwho carries cell phone 64 may manually disconnect cell phone 64 from theconference call and from control module 12. As another example, the userwho carries cell phone 64 may walk away from table 24 a distance largeenough that the Bluetooth connection between control module 12 and cellphone 64 is lost. By monitoring the continuous or at least intermittentBluetooth signals from cell phone 64, Bluetooth module 42 may detectwhen its communication link with cell phone 64 is no longer useful or nolonger works.

In a final step S218, in response to the determination in step S216 thatthe wireless communication link between the control module and thepersonal mobile device is broken, playing of any audible sound that isdependent upon an airborne signal from the personal mobile device isinhibited until the control module re-identifies the personal mobiledevice. For example, upon Bluetooth module 42 detecting that itscommunication link with cell phone 64 is broken, control module 12 mayrefrain from playing any sounds on loudspeakers 20 a-d that would resultfrom subsequent wireless signals that control module 12 receives fromcell phone 64. Thus, in the example scenario in which the owner of cellphone 64 walks away from table 24 and thereby loses his connection withcontrol module 12, begins another telephone call with someone who didnot participant in the prior conference, and then walks back intoBluetooth communication range with control module 12, control module 12will not play his new conversation on loudspeakers 20 a-d. However, ifcell phone 64 is again registered with control module 12, or otherwiseidentified as a device that is to be connected to control module 12,then control module 12 may again play audible sounds that are dependentupon airborne signals received from cell phone 64. Control module 12 mayrequire an authentication code from cell phone 64, possibly the sameauthentication code as received initially or another authenticationcode, before control module 12 will again play audible sounds that aredependent upon airborne signals received from cell phone 64.

Control module 12 may transmit to cell phone 64 one or moreauthentication codes when a communication link is first establishedbetween control module 12 and cell phone 64. A user of cell phone 64 mayneed to positively indicate on cell phone 64 that he would like cellphone 64 to be connected to, or re-connected to, control module 12, suchas by a series of keystrokes. After the user of cell phone 64 has thusindicated that he would like cell phone 64 to be connected to, orre-connected to, control module 12, cell phone 64 may beginautomatically and intermittently transmitting Bluetooth signals carryingthe authentication code.

Although the steps of method 200 may have been described above asoccurring in a certain order, it is to be understood that it is withinthe scope of the invention for the steps to occur in different ordersthan as illustrated.

The inventive system may enable transparent integration of a cell phoneinto the boardroom environment. To the degree that the above descriptionincludes integration of only the audio portion of the phone, it is to beunderstood that the invention may also include integration of the videoportion of the phone.

The invention has been described as using a Bluetooth protocol incommunication between control module 12 and cell phone 64. However, itis to be understood that it is possible for other wireless protocols tobe used in communication between the system of the invention and amobile electronic device.

Other combinations and arrangements will occur to those skilled in theart in view of the present disclosure. All publications, priorapplications, and other documents cited herein are hereby incorporatedby reference in their entirety as if each had been individuallyincorporated by reference and fully set forth. While the invention hasbeen illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoingdescription, the same is to be considered as illustrative and notrestrictive in character, it being understood that only certainembodiments have been shown and described and that all changes andmodifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desiredto be protected.

What is claimed:
 1. An office furniture conferencing system comprising:a table; a plurality of microphones attached to the table, eachmicrophone being configured to produce a respective audio signal; and anelectronic control module attached to the table, the module including: aswitching device having a plurality of inputs each configured to receivea respective one of the audio signals, the switching device beingconfigured to: select one of the audio signals; and output the selectedaudio signal; and a wireless transmitter communicatively coupled to theswitching device, the wireless transmitter being configured towirelessly transmit an airborne signal dependent upon the selected audiosignal.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmittercomprises a Bluetooth transmitter.
 3. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a loudspeaker attached to the table, the electronic controlmodule including a wireless receiver configured to receive a secondairborne signal from a personal mobile device disposed in a vicinity ofthe table, the control module being configured to play the secondairborne signal on the loudspeaker.
 4. The system of claim 3, whereinthe wireless receiver comprises a Bluetooth receiver.
 5. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the control module is configured to: identify thepersonal mobile device before playing the second airborne signal on theloudspeaker; and if a wireless communication link between the controlmodule and the personal mobile device is broken, inhibit playing of anyairborne signal from the personal mobile device until the control modulere-identifies the personal mobile device.
 6. The system of claim 3,further comprising a switch attached to the table and communicativelycoupled to the control module, the control module being configured toinitiate communication link with the personal mobile device in responseto actuation of the switch.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the systemis expandable by communicatively coupling the electronic control moduleto another electronic control module attached to an adjacent table. 8.The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module includes aninternet protocol port, the electronic control module being configuredto enable a user to establish microphone equalization settings via theinternet protocol port.
 9. An office furniture conferencing method,comprising the steps of: providing a table having a plurality ofmicrophones, a loudspeaker, and a control module attached thereto, themicrophones and loudspeaker being communicatively coupled to the controlmodule; producing a respective audio signal from each said microphone;automatically selecting one of the audio signals by use of the controlmodule; wirelessly transmitting a first airborne signal dependent uponthe selected audio signal, the transmitting being performed by use ofthe control module; wirelessly receiving a second airborne signal from apersonal mobile device that received the first airborne signal, thepersonal mobile device being disposed within fifty feet of the table,the receiving being performed by use of the control module; identifyingthe personal mobile device by use of the control module; playing audiblesounds on the loudspeaker dependent upon the second airborne signal, theplaying step occurring after the identifying step and being performed byuse of the control module; determining that a wireless communicationlink between the control module and the personal mobile device isbroken, the determining step being performed by use of the controlmodule; and in response to the determining step, inhibiting playing ofany audible sound that is dependent upon an airborne signal from thepersonal mobile device, the inhibiting continuing until the controlmodule re-identifies the personal mobile device.
 10. The method of claim9, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.11. The method of claim 9, further comprising a loudspeaker attached tothe table, the electronic control module including a wireless receiverconfigured to receive a second airborne signal from a personal mobiledevice disposed in a vicinity of the table, the control module beingconfigured to play the second airborne signal on the loudspeaker. 12.The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless receiver comprises aBluetooth receiver.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the system isexpandable by communicatively coupling the electronic control module toanother electronic control module attached to an adjacent table.
 14. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the electronic control module includes aninternet protocol port, the electronic control module being configuredto enable a user to establish microphone equalization settings via theinternet protocol port.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein theinhibiting continues until the control module receives an authenticationcode from the personal mobile device.
 16. An office furnitureconferencing system comprising: a table; a plurality of microphonesassociated with the table, each microphone being configured to produce arespective audio signal; a switching device attached to the table andhaving a plurality of inputs each configured to receive a respective oneof the audio signals, the switching device being configured to output aswitcher signal dependent upon the audio signals; and a wirelesstransmitter attached to the table and communicatively coupled to theswitching device, the wireless transmitter being configured towirelessly transmit a Bluetooth signal dependent upon the switchersignal.
 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising: a loudspeakerattached to the table; a wireless receiver attached to the table andconfigured to receive a second airborne signal from a personal mobiledevice disposed in a vicinity of the table, the loudspeaker beingconfigured to play the second airborne signal.
 18. The system of claim17, further comprising a processor attached to the table and configuredto: identify the personal mobile device before playing the secondairborne signal on the loudspeaker; and if a wireless communication linkbetween the processor and the personal mobile device is broken, inhibitplaying of any airborne signal from the personal mobile device until theprocessor re-identifies the personal mobile device.
 19. The system ofclaim 18, wherein the system is expandable by communicatively couplingthe processor to another processor attached to an adjacent table. 20.The system of claim 18, further comprising an internet protocol portattached to the table, the internet protocol port being configured tocarry microphone equalization settings input by a user.